As the local leader in service, and after being in business for over 90 years, we have learned that many people have the wrong idea about pest control. Our industry is riddled with pest control myths, many of which lead to the potential of greater damage from insect pests and rodents to your family as well as to your most valuable investment – your home! It’s human nature to hear or read something and say “Yes! I’ve heard that somewhere before so it must be true!”. The thing is – it’s usually not! We are here to squash 5 common pest control myths as a way to empower you to make the best decisions surrounding pest control. Think of us as your local pest control myth busters!
Myth #1: Rodents feed on bait & rodenticide, then get thirsty and go outside.
100% FALSE! Rodents do need water daily to survive but get most of their water from the food they ingest. Also, bait and rodenticide do not trigger thirst in rodents. Mice are not known to be adventurous creatures and often will only venture out approximately 30 feet from their nests.
Myth #2: Termites cannot damage concrete slab or brick homes.
This may be one of the biggest myths of pest control! Why? Because the bones of your home are wood, which is termite food. While termites do not eat concrete or brick, they have no issue crawling over these materials to get to the wood beam structures that were used to construct your home. For this reason and this reason alone, termites can – in fact – cause significant damage to concrete slab and brick homes. And remember … homeowners’ insurance does not cover termite damage! This is one reason why maintaining your termite warranty with Yates-Astro is so important.
Myth #3: Mice love cheese!
We have all heard this very popular and very common pest control myth, but contrary to popular belief you should not bait mice with cheese. Our favorite cartoons tend to portray these rodents as cheese lovers – and mice will snack on the crumbs of just about any food – but it turns out that they are indifferent to cheese. So, what do these pesky critters prefer? Chocolate, peanut butter, candy, or dried fruit! Mice prefer eating foods high in sugar as opposed to high in protein or full of dairy. In fact, your best bet for success to use in a mouse trap is chocolate or peanut butter. If you plan to give any of these foods a try, we recommend using small amounts for best results.
Myth #4: My house is brand new construction so I don’t need to worry about termites.
WRONG! The state of Georgia requires that all newly constructed homes undergo both a termite pre-treatment and a termite post-treatment. Our area of the country is a hotspot for Eastern Subterranean and Formosan termites, meaning in this area you are 5x more likely to experience termite damage than a fire, flood, and storm combined! These problematic pests wreak havoc on the bones of your home and cause more than $5 billion in damage every year. Most importantly, termites do not differentiate between new and old construction. The subterranean species most found in our area – the Eastern Subterranean and Formosan termites – eat 24/7, making them the most destructive species of termites found in the United States.
The bones of your newly constructed home are wood – which is termite food – and your homeowners insurance policy does not cover termite damage. Every homeowner in Southeast Georgia needs to be pro-active with their termite coverage – because in this area it’s not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when”.
Myth #5: If I can’t/don’t see a pest issue then there isn’t one!
This is a big myth because many of the most problematic pests – think carpenter ants and termites – stay hidden for the most part. Rather than feeding out in the open, certain pests (such as the aforementioned) are known for feasting on the insides of walls and in the crawlspaces of homes. Then you have the notorious bed bugs – they are nocturnal and do not come out to feed during the day, which is when you would probably see them. So, like termites and carpenter ants, they typically cause damage for months and months before any of their damage becomes visible. Most infestations are very well established before any of their damage is detected, leaving homeowners at risk for devastation and disease.
Successful pest control and prevention must go well beyond “I’ll keep an eye out.” Investigation, regular inspection, and prevention will ensure you are ahead of possible pest problems. It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to pests.
The biggest pest control myth out of them all is that you can always handle any pest infestation(s) on your own. Although there are some DIY methods and ideas that will help deter critters and pests, the best solution is to contact the professionals at Yates-Astro and let us help!